Apparatus for cleaning tobacco-pipes and the like.



8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

A. MARR. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TOBAOGO PIPES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27,1906.

7713572 asses fiaM/u/o M VLR A. MARE. APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TOBACCO PIPES AND THE LIKE. APPLIUATION PILEU JULY 27,1903. 902,752. Patented Nov. 3, 1908, 8 SHEBTS--SHBET 2.

by K

Z p awa t WV 0 422; JUN 8/ Q A. MARR.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TOBAOGO PIPES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION rum) JULY 21, 1906 Patented N0v.3, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 31 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER MARE, OF BROOKLANDS, NEAR MANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TOBACCO-PIPES AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER Mann, :1 subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Brooklands, near Manchester, England, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Cleaning Tobacco-Pipes and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My improvements relate to cleaning a tobacco pipe,,cigar holder, cigarette holder or the like by drawing or exhausting through such a pipe or equivalent a continuous current of air under atmospheric pressure, or, similarly, a liquid or other fluid current, which current will draw with it and dis charge from the room or other place in which the operation takes place any accumulation of nicotin, moisture or other matters usually found in a pipe or the like after use.

The apparatus may be installed in tobacconists or other shops, hotels, or other places of public resort and its use may be free to customers or users or a charge may be made.

If desired the apparatus may be brought into action or be rendered operative by the insertion or payment of a coin, as, for example, in a penny in the slot machine.

The apparatus comprises a suitable continuous air exhausting device, preferably of the jet exhauster type such as an ejector. Steam may be used for operatin such ejector, but water under pressure rom a towns supply will be found generally suitable, the water preferably only being turned on when the apparatus is required for use. The air passage of the exhauster or ejector is connected to a suitable nozzle or other part in or upon which the bowl or other part of the pipe or the like (hereinafter referred to as a pipe) ma be placed to form a tight joint so that t e air Which is eX- hausted by the apparatus must pass through the pipe. When the Water or other jet is turned on with the pipe in place the air is sucked with great velocity through the pipe and the current of air carries with it any deposit in or from the pipe. The removed deposit passes through the ejector with the air and flows away with the water or other jet to a drain or suitable receptacle.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction of the apparatus provided with a Water jet ejector and the application thereto of a tobacco pipe.

Figure 1 shows it in side elevation and Fig. 2 shows part of it in vertical section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1906.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Serial No. 327,975.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the combination with the existing device of a coin operated device which only permits the apparatus to be brought into action upon the prepayment of a coin. Fig. (3 shows the combination with the apparatus of a receptacle for water and the method of using such water in cleaning a pipe. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of a form of self closing water valve which may be used.

A is the inlet pipe of the water under pressure, B the ejector, and C the pipe through which the water, air, and matter removed from the tobacco pipe F pass to the drain. E is a nozzle or cap communicating through the hold D with the air inlet D of the ejector. The nozzle E is preferably formed of indiarubber or like flexible material and is prefe ably internally coned as shown so that different dimensions and shapes of pipe bowls may make a tight sealed joint when pressed against it as shown in the drawing. \Vhen water is turned on so as to flow through the ejector air is drawn with great velocity through the pipe 'stem and bowl F when properly in place as illustrated and through the openings D and D and passes with the water and any matter removed from the pipe F through the pipe C.

lVhen the operation has continued for a sufficient length of time the pipe bowl is removed from the nozzle and the water is cut off.

The mouthpiece of the pipe may be removed for or during the operation if desired. Instead of the bowl of the pipe being pressed into the nozzle as shown, the mouthpiece or stem may be so pressed into or upon an appropriate nozzle, but it is preferred to press the bowl as illustrated.

The nozzle E instead of being hollowed to receive the pipe bowl may be convex to enter therein as shown in Fig. (3, or it may be flat with an elastic or flexible surface. VVhatever form it may have I herein refer to it as a nozzle.

The valve for controlling the water supply may be operated independently, or it may be opened or closed as a result of the pressure of the pipe bowl upon the nozzle and the removal of the pipe therefrom. This is shown in Fig. 1. The ejector and its connecting pieces are ca able of slight movement. In this form is the valve controlling the Water supply, and is kept closed by the pressure of a spring or by the water pressure. t hen the pipe bowl 1* is placed in the nozzle and pressure is exerted to make the required tight oint this pressure causesthe ejector and its attached parts to move and the stem (i' of the valve is pressed against a fixed part H. 1y this pressure the valve is opened, the water lows and the ejector exhausts air through the pipe F. When the tobacco pipe is removed from the nozzle and the pressure relieved, the ejector moves back to its original position by the springiness of its pipes or connections, or by other like means the pressure upon the valve stem G is released and the valve closes.

If desired any suitable liquid may be similarly passed or forced through by atmospheric pressure when the ejector is working, the mouthpiece of the pipe dripping into a receptacle W for the purpose. Such liquid, When used, may be hot or cold, and, after the required quantity has passed throu h the pipe, air suction may be con tinued for some time to dry the pipe or remove any moisture.

A suitable receptacle containing the liquid or a mixture thereof may be combined with or attached to the apparatus so that the stem or mouthpiece of the pipe under treat ment may dip therein.

It is of course evident that other con tinuous air exhaustin devices than an ejector may be used and e similarly combined with the nozzle in which the pipe is placed.

Figs. 3, 4-, and 5 illustrate the combination with the exhausting device of a coin operative device which only permits the apparatus to be brought into use upon the prepayment of a coin. This coin operative device, however, is not herein claimed. The coin operative device is contained within a suitable casing J provided with a slit or coin opening K through which the coin may be passed. Beneath this slit is a chute or receptacle L into which the inserted coin M may pass and within which it stands upon edge upon the lower part as indicated in Fig. 3. In front of the coin, when in place in the chute, is an opening N in the latter through which the stem G of the valve may ass. The back of the chute is not straig t but is beveled backwards for a distance approximately about equal to half the width of the coin. The coin M, until the apparatus is brought into operation, is prevented from falling through an opening in the lower end of the chute by a hinged eounterweighted door which normally closes such opening as shown in Fig. 3. With the coin properly in place as shown in Fig. .3 and when the ejector is moved by the pressure of the pipe as before explained so that the stem of the valve presses against the face ol the coin in the chute, the coin is tilted as indicated in Fig. 5 and becomes rigidly held, and the door 0 is opened. Further pressure now opens the valve as the valve stem is now pressed against the rigidly held coin. Whcn the pressure is released the coin falls downwards, (see dotted lines Fig. 5) into a suitable receptacle, the door again closes under the influence of its counterweight 1, the ejector and valve return to the positions shown in Fig. 3, as by the influence of the spring R, and the appa atus is ready for another operation as soon as another coin is inserted. If no coin is in place the movement of the ejector does not open the valve as the valve stem freely passes into and through the openings N and Q.

S is an arm attached to the door 0 and adapted to limit its opening movement by coming against the casing wall, or other fixed part.

I claim 1. Apparatus for cleaning a tobacco pipe by continuous suction, comprising in combination a water jet ejector air exhauster, a nozzle communicating with the air passage thereof and so formed that the bowl or other part of the pipe may make an air-tight joint therewith, and a Water supply control valve operable by pressure upon the nozzle, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus for cleaning a tobacco pipe by continuous suction, comprising in combi nation a water jet ejector air exhauster, a nozzle communicating with the air passage thereof and so formed that the bowl or other part of the pipe may make an air-tight joint therewith, and a receptacle for cleansing liquid into which may dip the end of the pipe which is not applied to the nozzle, substantially as hereinbefore described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER MARR.

itnesses JOHN OGONNELL,

WV. WARREN. 

